What can be said of Zebra Eels and reef tanks?

[Bexar]

I have a 125gal Reef tank stacked high with live rock. Other than gluing the rocks together, is there anything I should be aware of in regards to an Zebra Eel. I have been informed they eat shrimp, do I need to set an individual tank up for the eel? Or would having it in the current tank be ok? I understand this species averages 28 to 30 inches, with a maximum of 3.3 feet? I have a 55 freshwater tank that I could convert, but it would have to be on the cheap and I am unsure of how to do this. If you have any ideas for this, I would appreciate it!

[sly fox]

you need a tight fitting cover

[seamonkey2]

hmm.. some eels yes you'll need a tight fitting cover, I have a large an healthy(read fat ) zeebra eel, and she does not venture far from her area unless she is chasing the shrimp I am feeding her. :)

I know of some people whom keep live shrimp with this particular eel without problems, they even clean them.

I also know Steve and Ace have zeebra's, maybe they'll chip in, I have no problems with mine and I have pleanty of room for her to "jump" out.

good luck they are beautifull eels

Jose

[RayAllen]

Great in reef tanks. I in the wild moray eels are found in reefs and primarily feed on crustaceans so any shrimp or crab are fair game. Other than that a Zebra will make a awesome edition to any reef.

[Bexar]

I have a good fitting top on the tank. I am very stoked about this. Thanks for the info. will it eat the clean-up crew? what about the size of fish and the waist that comes with it? is the tank going to be ok or will I have to up grade parts?

[RayAllen]

If your cleanup crew contains crustaceans yes there is a chance that it will eat them if it wants to.

[hobogato]

no problems with mine as far as jumping or eating hermits. have no shrimp in the tank. he is a bit destructive at feeding time and if you arent cautious, may knock over rocks and corals.

[Joshua]

I had a Zebra long ago before I had reef tanks, that was the most docile creature I've ever seen. I'd hand feed him shrimp every day and I could swear it was very careful to not bite my fingers. I had them in a 120 that was 6' long and this eel was every bit of 5' when he'd stretch across the back. Also had a snowflake that ended up carpet surfing and what I was told was a Mexican Dragon moray but never found the true name for it, that sucker was highly aggressive. I'd imagine the Zebra will browse for crabs and shrimp and such, this big fella that I had I couldn't see actually being able to catch a shrimp though because every movement was super slow and reserved, even with the lights off.

[hobogato]

not trying to be contradictory joshua, but the one i have is NOT carefull and docile when it is feeding time. i have had to play tug - o - war with him a couple of times when he bit down on the hemostats i was using to feed him - i can only imagine how bad that would have hurt if i had been feeding him by hand :what_smile:


...that was the most docile creature I've ever seen. I'd hand feed him shrimp every day and I could swear it was very careful to not bite my fingers. ...

[Joshua]

I wonder if it has to do with the age of the critter. I bought that tank as a whole setup that included those eels and they were all fully grown and mature. The guy was on base and was being shipped out somewhere and said he had that tank and eels for a very long time. The Zebra I had also had thicker white bars and seemed to have a smaller mouth than the pics of common Zebra Morays that I've seen so who knows it may have been a different species but I've never seen any other pics that look like it. When I would feed it, it would approach so slowly I used to wonder if it was blind and just trying to navigate by scent, but it never nipped my fingers and a finger is sorta shrimp-like so if it was blind I would have thought it would have eventually got me. That other one though, the one dude said was a Mexican Dragon Moray would fly across the tank at lightning speed and if my hand was in the water when he was on the move I have no doubt he'd take whatever he could bite into.

Hey, did you get my PM about the stand and canopy?

EDIT: That Zebra I would actually pet him when I had my hands in the tank for feeding or cleaning.

[mathias]

I would never buy another one in a reef tank again....


My reasoning is because its a oppertunist like many other creatures... anytime a fish gets sick or has a rough day the snowflake is looking to make it a meal. Now just because mine does it doesn't mean yours will but it might happen. Trust me once you put him in your tank you will never get the guy out lol...


He is very cool to look at but then again there is a lot of small fish or shrimp I now can't put in the tank.

[hobogato]

yeah, i agree on the snowflake mathias, the zebras seem more picky about what they eat. mine will only eat squid and krill.

[cfg7069]

I introduced a 12" snowflake eel to my established tank about four months ago, feeding him frozen krill and frozen squid cubes daily, making sure he was always fed he was living in perfect harmony with everyone until after four months later it gets up and eats both my Scarlet Skunk Cleaner Shrimp in one day! I don't understand why he would just get up and decide he wants to wolf them down? Keeping an eye on him now to see if he decides to go after any more live stock...not sure if to replace my poor shrimp at $20 bucks a pop.

[BIGBIRD123]

I just got mine eating good with garlic-soaked Krill but he doesn't venture far from "his" rock but sometimes goes PH diving. He likes to get on my Koralia #4 and just drop-off, kinda funny to watch. He's a beautiful Red-striped Zebra.

Steve

[Bexar]

The one I have my eyes on is eating out of thier hand 2-3 frozen (thawed) large shimp a day. He will come to the front of the tank and wait for you when it is hungry and take the food gently from your fingers. They keep it in a open top tank without any problems. It is 28"-30" long and they say this type of Zebra eel has a max. of 3.3 feet.
I only have 2or3 shimp that I very rearly get to see. The 2 things I am worred about are the sally light foot crab and my reef lobster. other than that I think with what I have received from your words I will go for it.

[jtrux]

I want one but need to get a bigger tank first

[mathias]

If a eel is really what you want I would get a bigger tank and only do a eel tank or a predetor tank. A lot of people don't know but some of the best fish in saltwater is predetor type of fish...


The whole coral side of our hobbie is really when you step in big and expensive... nothing like lossing hundreds of dollars worth of coral because you had a slight change in tank parameters...